Fuel-chute and locking device therefor.



E..KLEINKNEGHT. FUEL GHUTB AND LOOKING DEVICE THEREFOR.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 2, 1912.

1 ,O47,24;4;, Patented 'Dec. 17, 1912.

' 2 SHEETSSHEET l.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH CO..\VASHINGTON, D. c.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 2, 1912.

Patented Dec. 17, 1912.

2 SHBETS-SHHET 2.

irnn sr'rns ATENT FFEQ EMANUEL KLEINKNEOHT, F SPOKANE, WASHINGTON,ASSIGNOR TO HOLLEY- MASON HARDWARE COMPANY, OF SPOKANE, WASHINGTON, ACORPORATION OF WASHINGTON.

FUEL-CHUTE AND LOOKING DEVICE THEREFOR.

formic.

Application filed May 2, 1912.

' used for fuel chutes, secret safe compartments, and the like.

The objects of my invention are to devise a fuel chute made entirely ofheavy sheet metal without any cast-iron entering into its construction,and to provide a positive but very simple free swinging gravity-operatedlocking device for same which can be manually opened from a distance,afuel chute which will be strong and durable and not likely to be brokenby heavy lumps of coal or large pieces of wood being thrown into theopening to chute from Wagons, and devise the same so that the door whenclosed will fit tightly to keep out cold and moisture, and to locate thelocking device so that it will be extremely difficult for same to beopened from the exterior, and place the locking device above the path oftravel followed by fuel passing through the chute so as not to beclogged or injured thereby, and to make free swinging from top of chuteso that large lumps of fuel passing through the chute will not injureit.

Heretofore in fuel chutes the door which closes same is generally madeof cast-iron, very liable to be broken by throwing from wagons heavylumps of coal or large pieces of wood, and where a locking device isprovided at all it is generally only attached to one side of the chuteand to the lower side of same so as to be clogged or readily stopped bythe accumulation of fine fuel dirt and easily opened from the exteriorby burglars.

Stated in general terms, my locking device is used in connection with amechanism which is provided with a hinged door and side wings connectedwith this door. Extending between the side wings is a bar which isengaged by a gravity-locking mem ber when the door is closed, and whichserves to limit the movement of the door when the latter is opened. Thelocking member is Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 17,1912.

Serial No. 694,677.

operated by means of a cord, chain, or the like, which extends to anyconvenient place. These and other advantages of my invention will bemore readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of my locking device used in connectionwith a fuel chute, the chute being shown in its open position; Fig. 2 isa vertical section taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a verticalsection showing the fuel chute in closed position, this section beingtaken on the line 33 of Fig. at; and Fig. t is a rear elevation showingthe fuel chute in closed position.

In the embodiment of my invention which is illustrated in theaccompanying drawings the fuel chute is preferably constructed of heavysheet steel, and consists of the rectangular body portion 10, which issuitably secured in an aperture of the wall 11. In order to secure thechute firmly in position the body portion 10 is preferably supplied withheavy sheet metal angle irons 12 riveted on its front face and angleirons 13 on its sides. On the front of the chute is the door 1%,provided near its lower edge with the steel rod 15, the ends of whichengage the hinges 16. Extending rearwardly from each side of the door14: is a heavy sheet metal wing 17. Connecting the wing 17 is a steelbar 18, which engages the stops or detents 19 when the door is openedinto the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Pivotally suspended from theupper side 20 of the body 10 of the fuel chute is the steel lockingmember 21 which has an angularly bent locking surface 22. Attached tothe end 23. of the locking member is a cord or chain 24, which extendsto any convenient position.

Having now described the construction of the various parts used in myinvention, the operation of the same may now be readily understood:WVhen the door 14: is raised into the position shown in Figs. 3 and l,the locking surface 22 of the locking member 21 slips over the bar 18,thereby securely looking the door 14 in its closed position. hen it isdesired to open the door 14, the chain or cord 24 may be pulled from anyconvenient position, as, for example Within a dwelling, whereby thelocking member 21 is swung to the right from its position shown in Fig.3, thereby disengaging the locking surface 22 from the bar 18. The door1% may then be readily opened until the bar 18 engages the stops ordetents 19. When the door is again closed the locking bar 21 will againhave its locking surface 22 slip over the bar 18 by the action ofgravity, and the door is again securely locked immediately on itsclosure.

I have described my locking device particularly in connection with fuelchutes, but it will be apparent that it might be applied to a largevariety of uses. For example, a wall safe might readily be constructedwith a door similar to the door 14 of the fuel chute, and such a doorcould. be unlocked by operating a cord or chain passing to someconcealed place. It will also be apparent that many changes could bemade in the detailed construction of the parts which I have describedwithout departing from the spirit or scope of my invention.

What I claim is:

1. In combination with a door having rearwardly extending wings, a barconnecting said wings, a gravity-locking member adapted to engage saidbar when the door is closed, and means for disengaging said lockingmember, whereby the door may be opened, substantially as described.

2. In combination with a door having rearwardly extending wings, a barconnecting said wings, a gravity-locking member adapted to automaticallyengage said bar when the door is closed, means for disengaging saidlocking member from said bar, whereby the door may be opened, and

means for limiting the extent to which said door may be opened,substantially as described.

3. In combination with a door having rearwardly extending wings, a barconnecting said wings, a gravity-locking member adapted to automaticallyengage said bar when the door is closed, means for dis engaging saidlocking member from said bar, whereby the door may be opened, and a stopadapted to be engaged by said bar when the door is opened, therebylimiting the movement of the latter, substantially as described.

4. In a fuel chute, the combination of a sheet metal casing, a doorpivoted at its lower edge to said casing, wings extending rearwardlyfrom the sides of said door, a bar connecting said wings, agravity-locking member pivotally connected to the top of said casing,said locking member having a locking surface thereon for engaging saidbar when the door is closed and thereby automatically locking the same,means for disengaging said locking member from said bar, and a stopattached to said casing, said stop adapted to be engaged by said barwhen the door is opened, thereby limiting the movement of said door,substantially as described.

EMANUEL KLEINKNECHT.

\Vitnesses:

LUTHER J OHNS, L. E. HANNEN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner oi? Patents. Washington, I). G.

